A trial of suction drainage in inguinal hernia repair

Abstract

A prospective randomized trial was conducted on 301 adult males undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy to assess the value of postoperative suction drainage. Hernias were classified into 'complicated' and 'simple'. In the 'complicated' group suction drainage for 24 h significantly reduced the incidence of wound haematoma, seroma or infection from 48.7 per cent to 17.6 per cent (P < 0.01); there was also a noticeable effect on the postoperative morbidity in the 'simple' hernias, although this just failed to achieve significance (4.5 per cent in the suction group compared with 9.8 per cent in the controls). It is concluded that suction drainage should be employed postoperatively following repair of hernias where dissection may be difficult or where other complicating factors are present.

European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia in adult patients

“…Studies concerning postoperative drainage to prevent seromas are contradictory. In two RCTs of patients following open intervention, no advantage was observed in a series of 100 patients, whereas in another series of 301 patients, clear advantages were revealed for a drainage period of 24 h [ 34 , 234 ]. The risk of seroma is rarely big enough to necessitate leaving a drain, except in the case of excessive diffuse blood loss or patients with (iatrogenic) coagulopathies.…”

Über die Notwendigkeit der Redondrainage bei der Hernienversorgung nach Lichtenstein

“…In Übereinstimmung mit anderen Studien [2,4,6,7,10,12] konnten wir zeigen, daû die regelhafte Einlage einer Redondrainage dem Patienten keinen Vorteil bringt. Kleine Flüssigkeitsmengen finden sich unabhängig vom Vorhandensein einer Drainage im Wundgebiet, diese sind im Allgemeinen klinisch unbedeutend und müssen nicht punktiert werden.…”

Review of general surgery 1980

“…We have investigated the value of postoperative suction drainage in inguinal hernia repair (Beacon, Hoile and Ellis, 1980). In a series of 301 adult males undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy, the hernias were classified into 'simple' and 'complicated' (inguino-scrotal, the use of a truss, a recurrent hernia, large defects containing colon or bladder, associated cysts and the use of peri-operative anticoagulants).…”